WHO ABUSES INHALANTS?
One possible reason for the increased use of volatile solvents is that more girls are joining boys in sniffing solvents. Studies in New York State and Texas report that males are using solvents at only slightly higher rates than females. Among Native Americans, whose solvent-abuse rates are the highest of any ethnic group, lifetime prevalence rates for males and females were nearly identical, according to 1991 NIDA data. There is a public perception that inhalant abuse is more common among HISPANIC youth than among other ethnic groups. However, surveys have not found high rates of abuse by Hispanics in all geographic areas. Rates for Hispanics may be related to socioeconomic conditions. Hispanic youths in poor environments may use solvents heavily, but the usage rates in less stressful environments are lower. In fact, inhalant abuse shows an episodic pattern, with short-term abuse outbreaks developing in a particular school or region as a specific inhalant practice or product becomes p
